N200bn arrears: Federal workers issue 14-day ultimatum to FG

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over the non-payment of N200bn promotion/salary arrears and death benefits owed federal civil servants.

The President of the group, Mr Bala Kaigama, made the comment while speaking on the issue of the outstanding N200bn unpaid arrears in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Monday.

Kaigama who doubles as the President of the Trade Union Congress said that the Federal Government had commenced discussions with representatives of the aggrieved workers.

He stressed that the ASCSN would be compelled to embark on an indefinite strike if there was no agreement between the government and the workers within the period covered by the ultimatum.

He said, “We have given a 14-day notice and government is engaging us. If there is no agreement before the 14 days, our plan stands.”

The National Executive Committee of the ASCSN had threatened to picket the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office over the failure of the Federal Government to pay the N200m arrears to federal civil servants on May 4, 2017.

Kaigama had said that the federal civil servants would follow up with an indefinite strike as a virement approved by the National Assembly for the settlement of the outstanding arrears was diverted to pay contractors.

He said, “Yes, the picketing would be done and I will lead it because this thing has taken so long. The idea of the payment of arrears of promotions, death benefits, started as soon as the President was inaugurated.

“We wrote Mr President. He responded positively and then directed the Office of the Head of Service to sit with us and work out the details. Details were worked out through the MDAs and our representatives at the MDA level and submissions were made to the Office of the Head of Service.

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